Movember 1st - Will You Join Me in Changing the Face of Men's Health?

It's November 1st, and for the first time-ever, it's MOVEMBER 1st here at Rock Father HQ. Yes, you read that correctly - I am participating in Movember this year - my first-ever excursion into the world of being a MO BRO. Indeed, I do despise mustaches on baby products (and in most non-facial uses), and I once declared that "Hipsters and Movember Killed the Mustache Movement." My attitude has changed, and while I often tend to buck trends, why I previously chose not to participate in Movember is unimportant at this point. What's important is why I've chosen to support it.

Movember encourages men to start the month of November clean-shaven, and grow a moustache for 30 days while asking friends and family to donate in order to support their efforts. The funds that are raised will then be used to help change the face of men's health by supporting organizations that combat testicular and prostate cancer, and more recently, mental health challenges.

I have chosen to participate in Movember with Mental Health as my cause. Sorta like QUIET RIOT, but not really. It's an issue that I know well, having dealt with depression and anxiety myself, and having written about it earlier this year following the death of a fellow Dad Blogger.

To get started, I shaved last night (just a couple of hours ago, in the late hours of Halloween), missing that spot on my chin that I never seem to hit, but leaving plenty of real estate for a moustache to join and compliment my long, luxurious goatee. What shape will my moustache take this year? I'm undecided, but my wife says that I "grow funny facial hair," so we'll see. And all of YOU will get to see through daily progress pictures that I'll be posting over on Instagram. And here is Day 1. Remember, remember the 1st of Movember...

If you have the time and funds, please take a moment to donate to my cause through this link. No amount is too small, and I'm participating as part of a team of Dad Bloggers, currently 56-members strong. My competitive nature makes me want to dominate the charts, but at the same time, fundraising has never been a strong suit. I'd like to change that. Check out my Movember Profile, and I will provide you with funny facial hair.

James and/or his work have been featured in/on CNN, NBC, G4, The Chicago Tribune, Blogcritics, Fangoria, Starlog, The River Cities' Reader. Slowfish, Oil, and more. He's appeared as a music expert on CNN's AC360, and in 2013 he's been quoted on CNN, Babble, The Huffington Post, and The Good Men Project, in addition to making appearances on ABC News and WGN.